South Dakota, May 20: In all of America, there may be no more indelible symbol than the four famous faces that look down from the granite cliffs of Mt Rushmore in South Dakota. There are other important images of America – the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon – but none reflects so well the story of the US. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt played key roles in shaping the country. Washington led the American Revolution and became the country's first president, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, Lincoln freed the slaves and saved the union, and Roosevelt worked to protect the rights of the working man and made the US a world power. More Americans than ever are heading to the site to stand before the granite images of these honoured presidents who are seen as national treasures. Over and over, last year's visitors reflected a sense of urgency about visiting Mt Rushmore, perhaps impelled by what happened on September 11, 2001. Proof: On July 4 2003, at least 30,000 visited the memorial. Though the presidential heads can be viewed from 3.2km away in the town of Keystone, their full impact isn't felt until one confronts them at the memorial. Washington's head is the most prominent, as perhaps it should be, since he is the father of the American nation. Jefferson's chin is tilted upward, as if looking to the farthest reaches of the vast Louisiana Purchase lands he added to the country 200 years ago. Lincoln wears a grave expression, perhaps a legacy of the war that divided the country in the 1860s, and Roosevelt seems to be peering at the future through his spectacles. For a grand view of the presidential quartet, visit the granite terrace overlooking the amphitheatre.
First, visitors stroll through an impressive entry flanked by 50 granite columns, each topped by a state flag. Below the terrace are exhibit halls and two theatres in which visitors can see a film about the carving of the monument. Among the exhibits are plaster models of the heads and detailed explanations of how the massive work was done.
A favourite with youngsters is a display on mountain dynamiting; push a plunger down and a co-ordinated film shows a section of rock being blown off the mountain, with appropriate sound effects. During the renovation, the amphitheater capacity was increased to 3000, and two parking garages were built along with a spacious gift shop and big cafeteria. Especially popular with cafeteria guests is Breakfast with the Presidents: the Monumental Special meal of scrambled eggs, steak, hash browns and gravy for about $6 – with the sculpture visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The new Presidential Trail circling the base of the mountain is a must-see. The 800m-long boardwalk takes visitors over the jumble of rock debris that lies below the carved heads, giving views from unusual angles, such as Washington's profile from below his chin.
Getting there: Fly into Los Angeles or San Francisco with United Airlines, with domestic connections to Rapid City, South Dakota, the largest regional city. Mt Rushmore is about 40km southwest, and a hire car is a necessary for touring.
Bureau Report